STRAKU – Esslingen Street Art Festival

STRAKU — Esslingen's International Street Art Festival

Esslingen am Neckar in the Esslingen district (AGS 08116), with its well-preserved medieval old town and narrow alleys, is the ideal stage for a street art festival. This is where STRAKU (Street Art) has been held since 2016 — the largest and most refreshing street art festival in southwestern Germany. In 2026, the 11th edition will take place on Saturday, May 16, from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Free admission.

International Artists from Six Countries

The special feature of STRAKU: the high-caliber international artist lineup. In 2026, artists from Mexico, Italy, Malaysia, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Germany will perform — from Mexican high-wire acrobats to Brazilian dance theater, from Malaysian jugglers to German stand-up performers. Over 70 performers in total, many of whom are guests at street art festivals across Europe throughout the year.

Five Venues in Esslingen's Old Town

The festival utilizes five distributed venues in the historic old town:

• Postmichelbrunnen — central meeting point with the main stage
• Küferstraße — acrobatics and vertical arts
• Schelztor — theater and dance
• Bahnhofstraße — music and performance
• VHS Strohstraße — workshops and interactive programs

The performers rotate through the venues throughout the day — those who want to see all the artists can follow the tour with the program booklet.

Disciplines and Program

STRAKU presents the full spectrum of street art:

• Acrobatics — high wire, trapeze, floor acrobatics
• Juggling — from simple trick series to extreme multi-object juggling
• Dance — contemporary dance, hip-hop, traditional forms
• Music — street musicians, bands, solo performers
• Theater — mimes, spoken theater, collective improvisations

14,000 Visitors and Cultural Significance

In 2018 — during its third edition — 14,000 visitors were already counted. The festival has now become a cultural institution in Esslingen — local press speaks of "never more colorful and wonderful than on this weekend." The concept is completely free for visitors — financed by sponsors, the city of Esslingen, and hat collections by the artists. Anyone who wants to experience the original concept of street art — free, democratic, international — is in the right place here.